Shoma Uno and Marin Honda team up for Ice Dance

[BlissfulSynergy]

It will be a delight to follow the Shoma/ Marin ice dance journey. Shoma is following in the path of his idol, Daisuke Takahashi.

 

[Seven Sisters]

Surprisingly no, from what I was able to understand of the press conference. I believe Shoma mentioned something about the difficulty of finding good ice dance coaching in Japan, though. Perhaps they are being coached remotely?

I’d love to see them consider Cathy Reed. She’s amazingly creative—which would benefit them, considering the challenges posed by their heights!

 

[taikwan]

In ice dance, with Marin Honda

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-uno-shoma-comeback-ice-dance

I love him. I love how he skates but how.......what possible lift?

 

[4everchan]

I love him. I love how he skates but how.......what possible lift?

Shoma has very strong legs. Marin seems extremely light. Why not?

 

[DancingCactus]

I dont care in which form, having Shoma back is great. Hope it works out for them, I want to see them on the international stage.

 

[cocteautwin]

Shoma has very strong legs. Marin seems extremely light. Why not?

Exactly. Shoma is short but strongly built. From all the footage I saw so far I'm not too worried about their lifts, they don't look bad, he can generate some nice speed wit his leg muscles.

 

[flakyy]

Height difference is an important factor in ice dance. And experience in the discipline. Takahashi did not make it very far ... not surprisingly Z/K is very different - she is a perfect fit for him.

 

[Magill]

TBH it hardly comes as a surprise as it was rumoured ever since Shoma and Marin started to have joint "dancing" programs for shows, and the rumours got even stronger and more noisy when they attended an IAM training camp recently which many people online doubted they would do for shows only. This came shortly after the shocking disappointment (for Japan) of the last Olympic team event which showed how desperately Japan needed an ice dance team able to compete with the best, even if not necessarily able to podium individually, if they ever wanted to win this elusive team gold. Shoma with all his individual achievements is so well known to the judges that he can of course count on a better welcome from them than some no-name newcomer. Plus I am pretty sure ShoMarin will enjoy pretty strong backstage support from JSF just like Shoma did throughout his career, and I expect their comeback was not announced before they had discussed the matter with the federation. This would not happen at the former world champion level, I do not think so. It all comes combined with Shoma's disappointment with his pro career in ice shows which he had expressed quite frankly in an interview for "Esports World" magazine published just 2 or 3 days before their competitive comeback announcement. He said there his post-retirement career was not what he had hoped for and the Japanese ice show market is not so easy as it used to be. This interview, never mentioned here yet, somehow fulfills the picture for me. And it is worth noting that Shoma had announced joining a pro gaming team just a few days earlier so it seems he is going to follow two different paths in parallel, at least for some time now, and see what happens, I guess.

Now, of course it will make things interesting. I did not watch their shows apart from some short clips here and there on X or YouTube so I don't really know what their level is right now but taking how competitive Shoma is, I am pretty sure they weighted it all well and would not make this decision if did not think themselves able to become competitive enough to matter in the coming quad.

For me, and for many more, I think, it means rooting for - and possibly being torn between - them and Rika/Shingo, and I have no idea which one of those two teams built around a successful and popular single's skater is closer to a true ice dance team right now. Rika/Shingo are coached at IAM as I understand - or at least they were last season. And taking into account how unlucky Rika had been for many seasons with all the recurring injuries and what not, my heart is truly with her. But Rika also said her goodbyes to Toyota Team some 2 months ago, and I understand Toyota will support ShoMarin now.

 

[soccerjc77]

I'm so happy about this news. I've always loved Marin Honda's charisma, and I found it sad that she ended her solo career with performances that had declined. She has so much artistic talent. I can't wait to see Shoma and Marin progress together. I love them both. I'm already a fan of theirs before even seeing them compete

 

[demarinis5]

Being an ice dance fan for years I have to say that they have their work cut out for them. Their show clips were impressive
but actual competition is quite different. In my experience the judging in Ice Dance is its own animal compared to the other disciplines
where you can get a better impression on the judges score but not Ice Dance. The past few years the judging has been more questionable
than usual and some of the top teams have spoken out. I just hope that Shomarin are aware of how the middle of the pack skaters are judged
and not be discouraged.

That said as you probably know I am a big fan of Shomajesty and I am thrilled to see him back on the ice, and wish him
and Marin much success in their journey. I will certainly be cheering for them

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

In ice dance, with Marin Honda

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-uno-shoma-comeback-ice-dance

I love this so much for both of them!

 

[cheerknithanson]

This is very exciting.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I love him. I love how he skates but how.......what possible lift?

So far, the lift practice videos are not looking great. Leg strength for Shoma is not enough. Shoma might need to muscle up more in his upper body. Marin is about as tall as Shoma, yet she has long legs.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Emilea Zingas took to ice dancing and it worked out very well. Switching disciplines can be beneficial if both partners work hard, have superior coaching and engaging choreography. I expect slow progress at first, then better and better results. Good luck to both Shoma and Marin

 

[gsk8]

It looks like she is wearing (small) heels in this pic. They look about equal in some other pictures.

Right, but look at the soles of his shoes

 

[4everchan]

Well, he can wear insoles like Fabbri

 

[rabidline]

I’d love to see them consider Cathy Reed. She’s amazingly creative—which would benefit them, considering the challenges posed by their heights!

I'm throwing in Jean-Luc Baker into the hat. Short kings unite!!!!

 

[dorispulaski]

Jean-Luc knows everything about elevator style skates for short ice dance men.

 

[cocteautwin]

Height difference? No problem, let's just add few inches to Shomas boots

 

[noskates]

Shoma has always been one of my favorite skaters............but I just don't see this.